Gun and rod sling with ammunition rack



3, 1967 R. T. SAARI ETAL 3,334,794

GUN AND ROD sum; WITH AMMUNITION RACK Filed Nv. 4, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l Rudy 7. Swan Eino F radar/ck kana'nen INVENTORS g- 1967 R. T. SAARI ETAL 3,334,794

GUN AND ROD SLING WITH AMMUNITION RACK Filed Nov. 4, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent "cc 3,334,794 GUN AND ROD SLING WITH AMMUNITION This invention relates generally to carriers for sporting equipment and more particularly to multipurpose gun guild rod slings which are adapted for use by hunters in the Briefly, this invention comprises two embodiments of gun slings which are adapted to be worn over the shoulder of a hunter in order to carry a rifle either across the body, at the side, in port position, or in firing position. Further, these slings are quite versatile inasmuch as they allow for carrying of cartridges, fishing rods, bows or game while the users hands remain free for other purposes.

It is an object of the instant invention to provide slings having self-contained means for carrying a firearm, fishing rod or bow therein.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide slings for rifles which allow the user to carry the rifle in back slung, slide slung, or front slung port or firing posrtrons.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a flexible gun sl' g which is fabricated of elastomeric material and which includes means for carrying a plurality of various size cartridges therein.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide two embodiments of rifle slings of the character described each including novel means for forming rifle supporting loops therein in order to readily support various size rifles by the barrel and stock.

It is a final object of the present invention to provide novel gun slings which are extremely eflicient in operation while at the same time relatively inexpensive to construct and maintain.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention mounted in place on a user with a rifle supported therefrom in the intended manner;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the rifle stock supporting loop illustrated in FIGURE 1; FIGURE 4 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the fastening means illustrated in FIGURES l and 2;

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a partial perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention mounted in place on a user with a rifle and fishing rod supported therefrom in the intended manner;

FIGURES 7 and 8 are modified embodiments of the rifle stock supporting loop illustrated in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 9 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 99 of FIGURE 8; and FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 6 shown mounted about a users waist in game supporting position.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, and especially to FIGURES 1-3, reference numeral 10 gen- 3,334,794 Patented Aug. 8, 1957 erally denotes the gun and rod sling which comprises the first embodiment of the present invention. The sling 10 includes a main body member or harness 12 which is preferably constructed of a high grade synthetic rubber or other elastomeric material which is weather resistant while at the same time strong enough to support a rifle or fishing rod thereform. The sling 10 is adapted to be worn over the soulder 14 of a user in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1.

The main body member 12 includes bifurcated end portions 16 and 18, each including a carrier strap 20 and a body supporting strap 22. The carrier straps 20 and body supporting straps 22 are formed integrally with the body member 12 and are of the same material as the body member, the straps 20 and 22 each being split apart from the body member 12 as indicated at reference numeral The body supporting members 22 are adapted to be engaged about the body of a user and fastened together as indicated by reference numeral 26. The body supporting members 22 are releasably fastened together in the following manner. The left hand body supporting member 22 in FIG. 2 has a male fastening tab 28 extending from the end thereof, the fastening tab 28 being of reduced width and having an inwardly tapered forward end 30. The right hand body supporting strap 22 has a main slot 32 therein and a plurality of spaced slots 34 equally spaced therealong. The left hand body supporting strap has a pair of spaced apertures 36 therein adjacent the tab 28 for receiving the tab 28 in order to releasably fasten the tab in the main slot 32 or one of the auxiliary slots 34. Thus, it will be observed in FIGURES 4 and 5, that the body supporting strap 22 may be releasably fastened about the users body in order to support the main body portion 12 from the users shoulder 14 by the tab 28 being moved through the slot 32 and then threaded past the end 38 of the right hand body supporting strap 22 and through the spaced tab receiving apertures 36. Due to the elastomeric construction of the straps 22 and tab 28, when the tab 28 is moved through the main slot 32, the slot will be stretched to receive the tab and when released will frictionally engage the tab, as will occur when the tab 28 is threaded through the tab receiving apertures 36. Thus, in this manner, the body receiving straps 22 will be releasably fastened together. Further, as will be appreciated, the tab 28 could also be positioned through any of the slots 34 in order to provide for adjustment of the size of the sling in order to fit on persons of different size.

' A cartridge receiving rack section 40 is provided on the left hand body receiving strap 22, the rack section 40 including a plurality of pairs of parallel slits 42 and 44 cut into the strap 22 and spaced apart to leave a strap portion 46 therebetween. As will the noted in FIGURE 2, for example, the slits 42 and 44 are cut at an angle with respect to the longitudinal length of strap 22. Thus, due to the elasticity of the strap 22 cartridges 48 of various diameters may be easily slipped through the slits 42 and 44 and thus be releasably mounted in the rack 40 between the strap portion 46 and body supporting strap 42.

When the sling 10 is positioned over the users shoulder 14 and retained thereon by fastening of body supporting straps 22, the carrier straps 20 will normally hang downwardly alongside the users body, the right hand strap extending over the front of the users shoulder 14 and the left hand strap extending down behind the users other shoulder. The carrier straps 20 are substantially identical, and each includes an elongate slot 50 therein including a forward enlarged portion 52. Further, a plurality of spaced slots 54 are spaced along both carrier straps 20 rearwardly of the slot 50. The slot 50 is provided in the carrier straps in order to be able to form slip loops 56 at the ends thereof, the slip loops 56 being especially adapted to carry a rifle such as the rifle 58 from the sling 10. Thus, by viewing FIGURES 1 and 3 in particular, it will be observed that the rifle stock 60 is carried in the left hand loop 56 and the rifle barrel 62 is carried in the right hand loop. The. loops 56 are formed by moving or pushing a portion of the carrier strap 20 adjacent the slot 50 through the slot, the slot 50 being readily stretchable to receive the inboard portion of the carrier strap 20 due to the elastomeric properties thereof. Thus, it will be observed particularly in FIGURE 3, that the loop 56 may be readily formed in the end of the carrier straps 20 and when so formed will provide a frictionally engaged slip loop. The loops 56 are frictional slip loops by virtue of the elastomeric properties of the carrier straps 20 wherein the strap portion that is forced through the slot 50 will be engaged by the sides of the slot when the slot is released. Thus, it will be apparent that the rifle 58 may be carried either in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 with the stock adjacent the users right hand and the slip loops 56 tightened down against the stock and barrel or may be reversed with the stock adjacent the users left hand inasmuch as the slip loops 56 may be enlarged or contracted in order to reverse the position of the rifle therein. Further, due to the-composition of the carrier straps 20 when the rifle is so supported, it will be protected from being marred or scraped, as is possible when carried otherwise.

Referring again to FIGURE 2 and also to FIGURE 6, the purpose of the slots 54 in carrier straps 20 will be observed. Thus, it will be seen that a fishing pole 64 may be positioned through the slots 54 in both carrier straps in order to carry the pole as well as the rifle 58 therein. Further, it will be appreciated that a bow or other elongated sporting or hunting equipment may be readily carried between the carrier straps 20 merely by positioning the opposite ends thereof in the slots 54, the slots being stretchable by virtue of the composition of the straps to receive various size articles therein. Further, the sling may be positioned on the wearer with the rifle 58 carried across the front of the wearer or may he slipped around so that the rifle is carried at the wearers side or at his back. It will also be readily apparent that the rifle 58 may be used without being removed from the loops 56, the carrier straps providing means for steadying the rifle as it is being fired.

Referring now to FIGURES 6 and 10 in particular, a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is generally denoted by reference numeral 66. The sling 66 includes a main body member 68 which is widest at the mid-section thereof, as generally denoted by reference numeral 70. The body member 68 tapers inwardly to narrow end portions 72 and 74, which end portions each includes a slot 76 therein similar to the slot 50 described in relation to the above embodiment of the present invention. Thus, by viewing FIGURE 6 in particular, it will be observed that loops 78 identical to the loops 56 described above, may be formed in the ends 72 and 74 of the sling 76 in order to support a rifle 80 therefrom. Further, it will be observed that the sling 66 may be suspended from the users shoulder 82 with the rifle 80 being suspended under the users'arm adjacent his side. Thus, the rifle 80 is in carrying position and may be readily swung up into firing position by the user when desired. Further, it will be appreciated that the :slidable loops 78 may be tightened and slipped upwardly to shorten the sling 66 whereby a one-armed person may use a rifle slung from the sling 66.

Referring again to FIGURE 6, it will be observed that the body member 66 includes a cartridge rack 84 substantially similar to the cartridge rack 40 described above, including a plurality of pairs of slits 86 and 88 for positioning cartridges 90 in the rack. Further, the end portions 72 and 74 of the sling have additional slots 92 therein whereby a fishing rod generally denoted by reference numeral 64 may be carried by the sling as mentioned above in relation to the previous embodiment of the mvention. It will also be appreciated that other elongate sporting devices may be carried by the sling in this manner.

Referring now to FIGURE 10 it will be observed that the sling 66 may be worn about the waist 94 of a user, with one end 72 thereof slipped through one of the slots 92 in the other end, with the ends 72 and 74 hanging downwardly adjacent the users side. The sling 66 may be worn in this fashion due to the elastomeric properties of the invention which will frictionally retain the sling on the users waist. The end portions 72 and 74 hanging downwardly adjacent the users side enable the user to carry various objects such as game or the like by forming a loop from the ends 72 and 74 by slipping one end into the slot 76 in the other end. Thus, it will be apparent that the sling 66 when used in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 10 constitutes an ammunition carrier and/ or game carrier.

Referring now to FIGURES 7-9, a modified loop forming means useful with both embodiments of the present invention is illustrated. Referring first in particular to FIG- URE 7, it will be observed that the sling end generally denoted by reference numeral 96, which may be either the end of sling 10 or sling 64 has an enlarged head 98 thereon including a slot 100 therein and an inwardly tapered portion 102 in the member 96 immediately behind the head 98, thus forming shoulders 104. In the illustration of FIG- URE 7, the loop 106 is formed in a similar manner to the formation of loops 56 and 78, that is, the portion of the member adjacent the slot 100 is pushed through the slot in order to form the loop. However, referring to FIGURES 8 and 9, a second manner of forming the loop is illustrated. In this modified form of the invention, an annular sleeve member 108 of an elastomeric material similar to that of which the slings 10 and 66 are constructed is provided. It will be observed that the \loop 100 in the end of member 96 is formed by folding the end of the member 96 back upon itself and sliding the sleeve over the fold to a point adjacent the shoulders 104 on enlarged head 98. Thus, when the sleeve 108 is thus positioned, it will have been stretched in order to have been received over the fold and then released whereby the sleeve will frictionally retain the fold in looped position. It will be readily apparent that the rifle stock 60 or the barrel 62 may be positioned in the loop 110 and the sleeve 108 slided into tight frictional engagement with the stock or barrel in order to releasably fasten the rifle in suspension from the slings 110 or 56.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A sling for use in carrying sporting equipment comprising, a main body member, said main body member being unitarily constructed of elastomeric material and adapted to be supported from a users shoulder, said main body member being relatively flat and'elongate in shape, means for forming a sliding loop at one end of said main body member whereby the first end of a. rifle may be supported therein, means for forming a sliding loop at the other end of said main body member whereby the other end of a rifle may be supported therein, and means on said main body member for carrying a plurality of cartridges, said main body member includ ing a central portion of greatest width, the ends of said main body member being unitary and inwardly tapered.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein each said loop forming means comprises an elongate slot in said ends, a

portion of said end adjacent said slot being movable through said slot so as to form a slip loop.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein each said loop forming means comprises an enlarged head portion on said ends, a sleeve member, said enlarged head portion being foldable against said end to form a loop, and said sleeve member adapted to fit over said loop adjacent said enlarged head for releasably retaining said end in looped condition.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said cartridge carrying means comprises a plurality of pairs of slits in one of said ends, each of said pairs of slits having a strap portion therebetween, said strap portions adapted to be pushed outwardly for receiving a cartridge through said pairs of slits, said cartridges thereby being retained between said strap portions and said one end.

5. The sling as defined in claim 1 wherein said means forming sliding loops on the body member define game choker means when the body member is disposed in Waist encircling position, said game choker means including a longitudinal slot at each end of the body member.

6. The combination of claim 1 including means in each end of said main body member adjacent the means for forming a sliding loop for supporting one end of an elongate object such as a fishing rod or bow.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 745,866 12/1903 Laing 22423 X 2,812,123 11/1957 Girton 224-1 2,915,233 12/ 1959 Moomaw.

2,970,729 2/1961 Allen 22458 X 3,258,182 6/1966 McDonald 2245 X FOREIGN PATENTS 107,406 6/ 1917 Great Britain. 318,337 2/ 1957 Switzerland.

GERALD M. F ORLENZA, Primary Examiner. F. E. WERNER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SLING FOR USE IN CARRYING SPORTING EQUIPMENT COMPRISING, A MAIN BODY MEMBER, SAID MAIN BODY MEMBER BEING UNITARILY CONSTRUCTED OF ELASTOMERIC MATERIAL AND ADAPTED TO BE SUPPORTED FROM A USER''S SHOULDER, SAID MAIN BODY MEMBER BEING RELATIVELY FLAT AND ELONGATE IN SHAPE, MEANS FOR FORMING A SLIDING LOOP AT ONE END OF SAID MAIN BODY MEMBER WHEREBY THE FIRST END OF A RIFLE MAY BE SUPPORTED THEREIN, MEANS FOR FORMING A SLIDING LOOP AT THE OTHER END OF SAID MAIN BODY MEMBER 